The Maharashtra government had demanded a relief package of Rs 1,801 crore under the National Disaster Relief Fund, but the central team after assessing the situation recommended Rs 872 crore.

Last year, Rs 778 crore was approved to the state under this fund to mitigate losses to crop.

Shinde said the EGoM has approved drought relief packages for Kerala and other states as well.

Of the total 34 districts in Maharashtra, the worst- affected are Solapur, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Pune, Satara, Beed and Nashik. The situation is also serious in Buldhana, Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded, Aurangabad, Jalna, Jalgaon and Dhule districts, an official said.

Some districts in the state are facing acute shortage of fodder and drinking water problem. Drinking water is being supplied through tankers in most affected villages, the official added.